Government to tackle unemployment with technology, innovations

The Economic adviser to the President, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu, has said the Federal Government is committed to addressing the unemployment challenges in the country by focusing on technology and innovations.

He also noted that the provision of enabling environment and policies to drive inclusive economic growth has helped to create more jobs.

Dipeolu made this known in Ibadan during at a two-day dialogue to proffer solution to Nigeria economic problem organised by Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy.

The Economic Adviser noted that the government is interested in opening doors of opportunities for Nigerians through technical cooperation with international leaders across the globe with a view to ensuring that professionals as well as creative minds are able to access latest technologies, innovations and opportunities.  

In a remark, the chairman of ISGPP and keynote speaker, Prof. Ademola Oyeyide, stressed that the nation’s economy growth process is not employment-intensive.   

On his part, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia said unemployment is a tragedy of monumental problem.

The development economist pointed out that a nation that neglected its youth is digging its grave, lamenting that many talented Nigerian youths wandering the streets.  

In his address, the executive vice chairman, Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy  (ISGPP), Dr Tunji Olaopa said that job creation on a massive scale is the solution to economic problem of Nigeria.

Olaopa said the aim of the dialogue is to build on previous conversations in and around government, to highlight Nigeria’s youth unemployment challenges, and also to know what Nigeria government is doing to tackle the menace of unemployment and the role of the private sector in job creation

His words: “Part of our findings from our study shows that weak policy conceptualisation, management, implementation, and evaluation are at the core of perennial challenge of youth unemployment in Nigeria.”

Olaopa noted that job creation and full employment are seeing as important economic fundamentals and the availability of good job is the most important measures of a sound economic health.

“Statistics shows that Nigeria working age population is growing rapidly and will continue to grow over the next 20years, but our labour and capital markets must also be ready for this change in the population age structure, failure to absorb the large working age population into productive, formal sector employment can cause danger and aggressive which can hindered job creation and youth employment,” he said.